Thanksgiving at Juno Beach
The beach was all deserted
The waves crashed to the shore
Looking out across the vastness
Thinking of men who were no more.
The land was very open
There was no protection in sight
They were young and scared and innocent
Not prepared for the Germans to fight.
Now they rest in a peaceful garden
It is the peace that they never knew
They lie side by side together
The Christian and the Jew.
The stones are very simple
A name, a date, a place
Young men alone in Juno
Never to see their mother's face.
Inscriptions of love are chiseled
Into that very plain cold stone,
Young men with waiting families
Now they rest so all alone.
There was a special reverence
As we walked past row by row
A very special thanksgiving
With the men at Beach Juno.
"Someday we will understand?"
Well, crafted, Nancy. And touching.
ReplyDeleteVery well done! Even in death there is desolation.
ReplyDeleteNancy, were you still in France when you wrote this? A beautiful reminder of your visit.
ReplyDeleteI was. We went there on thanksgiving and when we got back to the villa I wrote it down. Honestly, it is such a peaceful plot of ground with chirping birds breaking the silence. What really struck me was that we walked row by row of each soldier yet many families would never see their loved ones resting place. I felt very fortunate.
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